Paper tissue dispenser

ABSTRACT

A paper tissue dispenser is disclosed and which includes a container which encloses a plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing, and wherein the container substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue at a time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a paper tissue dispenser, and more specifically to a paper tissue dispenser which substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue at a time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Facial tissue has been dispensed in paperboard cartons for decades. Consumers of facial tissue have, from time-to-time, experienced difficulty and frustration in opening these sealed containers and thereafter locating and grasping the first tissue which is positioned within the cavity of the container. Individuals with large fingers, or people with reduced fine motor skills, such as the elderly, and patients with various neurological disorders have often found it difficult to find and grasp the first tissue from such dispensers.

In addition to the foregoing, consumers have often been frustrated that the prior art tissue dispensers often dispense more than one tissue at a time. In particular, while the consumer will grasp one tissue, often that tissue will pull or otherwise draw one or more other tissues along with it as it is being dispensed. These additional tissues are often not necessary, and are usually discarded by the consumer.

A paper tissue dispenser which avoids the shortcomings attendant with the prior art dispensers utilized heretofore is the subject matter of the present application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a paper tissue dispenser, and which includes a container which encloses a plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing, and wherein the container substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue at a time.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a paper tissue dispenser which includes a container having a top surface, and which defines a cavity which encloses a plurality of individual paper tissues which are releasably joined together, and wherein the top surface defines an opening which has a substantially restrained length, and width dimension, and through which the individual tissues are dispensed, and wherein the top surface defining the opening imparts an amount of frictional resistance to a tissue passing through the opening so as cause a separation of another tissue which is joined thereto to substantially prevent the dispensing of two tissues.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a paper tissue dispenser which includes a paperboard container having a length and width dimension and which defines an internal cavity which encloses a first and a second course of individual tissues which are folded together and which are to be individually dispensed, and wherein the respective tissues of each of the first and second courses have a length dimension, a surface area, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing edge of a first tissue in one of the two courses is coupled by a plurality of connections to the leading edge of next adjacent tissue in the same course, and wherein the first tissue in a course may be forcibly separated from the next subsequent tissue in the same course by breaking the plurality of connections, and wherein the paperboard container further has a top surface which defines an opening through which the individual tissues pass, and wherein the opening has a length dimension which is less than about 45% of the length dimension of the individual tissues; and a flexible membrane is mounted on the top surface of the paperboard container, and which partially occludes the opening defined by the top surface, and wherein the flexible membrane defines a dispensing opening having a length dimension which is at least 85% of the length dimension of the opening defined by the top surface, and wherein force applied to the leading edge of a first tissue in the first course, is effective in drawing substantially the entire surface area of the first tissue in the first course through the dispensing opening as defined by the flexible membrane while simultaneously carrying at least about 30% of the surface area of a first tissue in the second course through the dispensing opening, and wherein the flexible membrane exerts an amount of frictional resistance on the respective first tissues of each of the first and second courses which are being drawn through the dispensing opening such that the first tissue in the first course separates from the next subsequent tissue in first course by breaking the plurality of connections therebetween.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective, side elevation view of a prior art paper tissue dispenser.

FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective, side elevation view of a paper tissue dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the paper tissue dispenser of the present invention in the process of dispensing a tissue.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the paper tissue dispenser of the present invention dispensing a tissue at a point in time after that seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective, fragmentary view of a plurality of paper tissues which are folded in an appropriate manner for insertion within a paper tissue dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of two adjacent paper tissues in the same course showing the interconnections made therebetween.

FIG. 7 is a greatly simplified, transverse, vertical, sectional view taken through a paper tissue dispenser of the present invention and showing the paper tissues dispensed from same in a first position.

FIG. 8 is a greatly simplified, transverse, vertical, sectional view taken through a paper tissue dispenser of the present invention and showing the paper tissues dispensed from same in a second position.

FIG. 9 is a greatly simplified, transverse, vertical, sectional view taken through a paper tissue dispenser of the present invention and showing the separation of one tissue from the plurality of tissues received within the paper tissue dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

The paper tissue dispenser of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 2 and following. FIG. 1 shows a prior art paper tissue dispenser 11. This prior art container includes a paperboard container generally defined by a top surface 12, a bottom surface 13, which is spaced therefrom, and sidewalls 14 which connect the top and bottom surfaces together to define an internal cavity which encloses a plurality of paper tissues to be dispensed. Still further, an aperture 15 is formed in the top surface 12, and a flexible membrane 20 is provided and which occludes the aperture 15, and which further defines a narrow longitudinally disposed opening 21 through which the respective tissues are dispensed. As seen in FIG. 1, the opening 21 has a length dimension which is generally indicated by the numeral 22, and which is greater than about 60% of the overall length dimension of the prior art container 11. Still further, and in some prior art devices, the length dimension of the opening 21 may be somewhat less then the length stated above. However, in practice, such opening 21 regardless of its length is typically increased by the user of the device as by tearing the flexible membrane when they insert their hand in through the opening 21 in order to grasp and remove a plurality of tissues to be dispensed 23. In the prior art devices, therefore, it is usually the case that more than one paper tissue is dispensed at a time because of the lengthening or tearing of the elongated opening which is provided in the flexible membrane 20.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the paper tissue dispenser 10 is fabricated in the form of an elongated rectangular shaped paperboard container 30. The container 30 has a generally rigid top surface 31 which defines an opening 32 through which individual paper tissues will be dispensed. The opening 32 has a length dimension 33 which is generally oriented along the longitudinal axis of the container 30, and further has a width dimension which is generally indicated by the numeral 34. As illustrated, in FIG. 2, the width dimension in some forms of the invention is not substantially uniform relative to the length dimension 33 and may vary from a minimal dimension to a maximum dimension which is approximately midway along the length of the opening 32. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the opening 32 which is formed in the top surface has a length dimension 33 of about 4 inches. Further, it should be understood that the length dimension of the respective tissues which are dispensed from the paper tissue dispenser 30 will be greater than about 8 inches and less than about 9 inches. In the arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, the container 30 has a length dimension of about 9.25 inches and a width dimension of about 4.6 inches. Still further, the opening 32 which is defined in the top surface 31 has a length dimension which is less than about 50% of the length dimension of the container, and a width dimension which is less than about 55% of the width of the container.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2 and following, a flexible membrane 40 is provided and which is secured in a manner such that it substantially occludes the opening 32 provided in the top surface 31. The flexible membrane 40 defines a dispensing opening 41 which is substantially longitudinally, and coaxially oriented relative to the elongated paper tissue container 30. As will be appreciated from the drawing, the dispensing opening 41 has a substantially restrained length dimension 42 which can be no longer than the length dimension 33 of the opening 32, and a relatively unrestrained width dimension 43 which is typically less than the width dimension 34 of the opening 32. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the width dimension 43 of the flexible membrane 40 can be forcibly increased so as to be not greater than the width dimension 34 of the opening 32. As should be understood, the flexible membrane 40 exerts a frictional force, or drag on the respective paper tissues which pass through the dispensing opening 41. These paper tissues will be discussed in greater detail, hereinafter. In the arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, and following, the dispensing opening 41 has a length dimension 42 which is at least about 85% of the length dimension of the opening 32, and a relatively unrestrained width dimension which is less than about the width dimension of the opening 32. As will be appreciated by a study of FIG. 2, the width dimension can be forcibly increased. Still further, the container 30 is further defined by sidewalls 44 which connect the top surface 31, with a bottom surface 45. Still further, the top surface 31; sidewalls 44; and bottom surface 45 define a cavity 46 which contains a plurality of tissues 50 to be dispensed.

The cavity 46, of the container 30 encloses a plurality of paper tissues 50 to be dispensed, as seen in FIG. 5. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, a hand of an individual 51 is employed to grasp one of the paper tissues to be dispensed, and forcibly remove it through the dispensing opening 41 as provided by the flexible membrane 40. As earlier discussed with respect to the prior art paper tissue container 11 (FIG. 1), a plurality of paper tissues will often be dispensed substantially simultaneously when one tissue is removed. This shortcoming in the prior art containers has proved to be inconvenient and wasteful of the supply of paper tissues provided because the user often discards both the tissue which they have used, as well as the other tissues which have been removed unintentionally and simultaneously with the removal of the tissue which was initially grasped by the user. As best seen by references to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the plurality of paper tissue to be dispensed 50 are fabricated and then foldably arranged into a substantially continuous first course 52; and a second course 53. The respective first and second courses 52 and 53 are folded together to form the plurality of paper tissues to be dispensed 50 as seen in FIG. 5. As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, it should be understood that the respective first and second courses each include a plurality of individual paper tissues 54 which are sequentially releasably joined together. As seen in FIG. 6, each course is defined by a first tissue 55 which is releasably joined to a second tissue 56. Each of the paper tissues 54 which are provided in the first and second courses have a main body 60 which is defined by a leading edge 61, and a trailing edge 62. As should be appreciated from a study of FIG. 6, the trailing edge 62 of a first tissue 55 is joined to the leading edge 61 of an adjacent or second tissue 56 by a plurality of connections or attachment points which are generally indicated by the numeral 63. Still further, each of the main bodies 60 of the respective tissues 60 are folded, substantially along the longitudinal axis as indicated by the line labeled 64. Still further, and as seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, it will be appreciated that the first and second courses 52 and 53, respectively, are so arranged such that the leading and trailing edges 61 and 62 of the respective individual tissues 54 in each of the courses 52 and 53 are staggered or otherwise disposed or positioned substantially along the midpoint 64 of the paper tissues in the adjacent course. This arrangement of the paper tissues facilitates the individual dispensing of individual paper tissues 54 and substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue at a time as will be discussed in greater detail below. Each of the respective tissues 54, have a length dimension 65 (FIG. 5), and a width dimension 66. As illustrated by reference to FIG. 5, the respective individual paper tissues are folded longitudinally and along the longitudinal axis as indicated by line 64.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a plurality of paper tissues 50 to be dispensed are illustrated in a highly simplistic fashion so as to understand the features of the present invention. In this regard, a paper tissue dispenser 10 of the present invention includes a container 30 having a top surface 31, and which defines a cavity 46 which encloses a plurality of individual tissues 54 which are releasably joined together. The top surface 31 defines an opening 32 which has a substantially restrained length dimension 33, and a width dimension 34 and through which the individual tissues 54 are dispensed. The top surface 31 defining the opening 32 in combination with the flexible membrane 40 imparts an amount of frictional resistance to the individual paper tissues 55 passing through the opening 32/41 so as to cause a separation of the next adjacent paper tissue 56 which is joined thereto to substantially prevent a dispensing of two tissues substantially simultaneously. In the arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, and following, the container 30 has a length dimension of about 9.25 inches, and a width dimension of about 4.6 inches, and wherein the opening 32 defined in the top surface 31 has a length dimension 33 which is less than about 50% of the length dimension of the container 30 and a width dimension 34 which is less then about 55% of the width of the container. As earlier disclosed, a flexible membrane 40 defines a reduced dimension dispensing opening 41 through which individual tissues 54 pass. As seen in the drawings, the flexible membrane is mounted in partially occluding relation relative to the opening 32 which is defined by the top surface 31. The dispensing opening 41 which is defined by the flexible membrane 40 has a length dimension 42 which is at least about 85% of the length dimension 33 of the opening 32 as defined by the top surface of the container 30. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the individual tissues 54 which are dispensed by the container 30 each have a length dimension 66 of less than about 9 inches. As should be understood, the length dimension 42 of the dispensing opening 41 as defined by the flexible membrane 41 is less than about 45% of the length dimension of the individual tissues 54. As earlier discussed, the flexible membrane 40 is operable to exert a frictional force of an amount on the individual tissues 54 so as to cause only one tissue to be dispensed at a time while simultaneously substantially prohibiting the tearing of the paper tissue being dispensed. It has been discovered by the inventor that the lengthening of the dispensing opening 41 beyond the dimensions as provided for herein, causes the flexible membrane 40 to not exert sufficient frictional force on the individual paper tissues that are being dispensed so as to permit the multiple dispensing of paper tissues from each of the first and second courses as may be supplied from the cavity 46.

Operation

The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

A paper tissue dispenser 10 of the present invention comprises a paperboard container 30 having an opening 32 which has a length dimension 33, and width dimension 34, the container 30 further defines an internal cavity 46 which encloses a first and a second course, 52 and 53 of individual tissues 54 which are folded together and which are to be individually dispensed. The respective paper tissues 54 of each of the first and second courses 52 and 53 have a length and width dimension 65 and 66, respectively, a surface area, and a leading edge 61 and a trailing edge 62. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the trailing edge 62 of a first tissue 55 in one of the two courses is coupled by a plurality of connections 63 to the leading edge 61 of next adjacent or second paper tissue 56 in the same course. The first paper tissue 55 in a course may be forcibly separated from the next subsequent tissue 56 in the same course by breaking the plurality of connections 63. The paperboard container 30 further has a top surface 31 which defines an opening 32 through which the individual tissues 54 pass. The opening 32 has a length dimension 33 which is less than about 45% of the length dimension 66 of the individual tissues 50.

In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, a flexible membrane 40 is mounted on the top surface 31 and which partially occludes the opening 32 defined by the top surface. The flexible membrane 40 defines a dispensing opening 41 having a length dimension which is at least 85% of the length dimension 33 of the opening 32 defined by the top surface 31. Still further, force applied to the leading edge 61 of a first tissue 55 in one of the first or second courses 52 or 53, is effective in drawing substantially the entire surface area of the first tissue 55 in the first or second course through the dispensing opening 41 as defined by the flexible membrane 40 while simultaneously carrying at least about 30% of the surface area of a first tissue 55 in the other of the first or second course 52 or 53 through the dispensing opening 41. In this arrangement, individual tissues are alternatively dispensed from each of the first and second course 52 and 53, respectively. This is best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9, respectively. As should be understood, the restricted length dimension 42 of the dispensing opening 41 causes the flexible membrane to exert an appropriate amount of frictional resistance on the respective first tissues of each of the first and second courses which are being drawn through the dispensing opening such that the first tissue 55 in the first course 52 separates from the next subsequent or second paper tissue 56 in first course 52 by breaking the plurality of connections therebetween (FIG. 4). As seen by reference to FIGS. 4 and 9, the first tissue 55 in the first course 52 separates from the next subsequent paper tissue 56 in the first course 52 when the first tissue in the first course is located entirely outside of the paperboard container 30. Still further, and as understood from the drawings, the first tissue 55 of the first course 52 separates from the next subsequent paper tissue 56 in the first course 52 when the leading edge 61 of the next subsequent paper tissue 56 in the first course 52 has passed through the dispensing opening 41 and is positioned outside of the paperboard container 30 (FIG. 4).

As described, above, the present invention substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue 54 at a time while conserving the number of paper tissues which are available for subsequent use.

Therefore it will be seen that the present paper tissue dispenser provides a means for dispensing individual tissues in a highly advantageous manner not possible heretofore and avoids many of the shortcomings of the prior art dispensing assemblies which have been utilized heretofore.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A paper tissue dispenser, comprising: a container which encloses a plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing, and wherein the container substantially prohibits the dispensing of more than one paper tissue at a time.
 2. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the plurality of paper tissues have a leading and a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing edge of a first paper tissue is intermittently joined to the leading edge of a second paper tissue by a plurality of connection points, and wherein the container defines an opening through which the first and second paper tissues pass, and wherein force imparted to the first paper tissue causes the first paper tissue to pass through the opening and pull at least a portion of the second paper tissue therethrough, and wherein the container imparts an amount of frictional force on the second paper tissue as it continues to pass through the opening under the influence of the force applied to the first paper tissue so as to facilitate the separation of the first and second paper tissues at the plurality of connections.
 3. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the container has a top surface, and further defines a cavity which encloses the plurality of paper tissues for individual dispensing, and wherein the top surface is formed, at least in part, of a rigid substrate defining an opening, and which has a length and width dimension, and the respective paper tissues have a length dimension which is greater than about twice the length dimension of the opening formed in the top surface.
 4. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising: a flexible membrane which occludes, at least in part, the opening defined in the top surface, and wherein the flexible membrane defines a dispensing opening having a substantially restrained length dimension which is as long as the length dimension of the first opening, and a substantially unrestrained width dimension which is less than the width dimension of the opening defined by the top surface, and which can be forcibly increased, and wherein the movement of the first and second paper tissues through the dispensing opening increases the width dimension of the dispensing opening, and wherein the flexible membrane exerts a frictional force to the first and second paper tissues as they pass through the dispensing opening.
 5. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising: a flexible membrane which occludes, at least in part, the opening defined in the top surface, and wherein the flexible membrane defines a dispensing opening having a length dimension which is at least about 85% of the length dimension of the opening defined by the top surface, and a substantially unrestrained width dimension which is less than the width dimension of the opening, and which can be forcibly increased, and wherein the movement of the first and second paper tissues through the dispensing opening increases the width dimension of the dispensing opening, and wherein the flexible membrane exerts a frictional force to the first and second paper tissues as they pass through the dispensing opening.
 6. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the width dimension of the dispensing opening can be forcibly increased to a width dimension which is equal to the width dimension of the opening as defined by the top surface.
 7. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 6, and wherein a plurality of paper tissues are formed into discreet first and second courses, and wherein each of the first and second courses are defined by a plurality of individual paper tissues each having a leading edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing edge of one paper tissue is releasably connected to the leading edge of the next adjacent paper tissue in each of the first and second courses, and wherein the first and second courses are folded together in a fashion whereby force applied to the first paper tissue, in the first course, has the effect of moving the first paper tissue, and a portion of the second paper tissue, in the first course, through the dispensing opening while simultaneously carrying a portion of a first paper tissue of the second course through the dispensing opening.
 8. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 7, and wherein individual paper tissues are alternatively dispensed from the respective first and second courses.
 9. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the length dimension of the opening defined by the top surface is about 4 inches; and the length dimension of the respective tissues is greater than about 8 inches.
 10. A paper dispenser as claimed in claim 7, and wherein each of the paper tissues has a surface area, and wherein the movement of the first paper tissue, and a portion of the second paper tissue, of the first course, through the dispensing opening has the effect of carrying at least about 30% of the surface area of the first paper tissue, of the second course, through the dispensing opening before the first and second paper tissues of the first course forcibly separate as a result of the friction imparted by the flexible membrane.
 11. A paper tissue dispenser, comprising: a container having a top surface, and which further defines a cavity which encloses a plurality of individual paper tissues which are releasably joined together, and wherein the top surface defines an opening which has a substantially restrained length and width dimension, and through which the individual paper tissues are dispensed, and wherein the top surface defining the opening imparts an amount of frictional resistance to a paper tissue passing through the opening so as cause a separation of another paper tissue which is joined thereto to substantially prevent a dispensing of two paper tissues.
 12. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 11, and wherein the container has a length dimension of about 9.25 inches, and a width dimension of about 4.6 inches, and wherein the opening defined in the top surface has a length dimension which is less than about 50% of the length dimension of the container, and a width dimension which is less than about 55% of the width dimension of the container.
 13. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 12, and wherein a flexible membrane defining a reduced dimension dispensing opening through which the individual paper tissues pass, is mounted in partially occluding relation relative to the opening which is defined by the top surface, and wherein the dispensing opening has a length dimension which is at least about 85% of the length dimension of the opening as defined by the top surface of the container.
 14. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 12, and wherein the individual paper tissues which are dispensed by the container each have a length dimension of less than about 9 inches, and wherein a flexible membrane defining a reduced dimensioned dispensing opening through which the individual paper tissues pass is mounted in partially occluding relation relative to opening which is defined by the top surface, and wherein the length dimension of the dispensing opening as defined by the flexible membrane is less than about 45% of the length dimension of the individual paper tissues.
 15. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 13, and wherein the flexible membrane exerts a frictional force of an amount on the individual paper tissues so as to cause only one paper tissue to be dispensed at a time while simultaneous substantially prohibiting the tearing of the paper tissue being dispensed.
 16. A paper tissue dispenser, comprising: a paperboard container having a length and width dimension and which defines an internal cavity which encloses a first and a second course of individual paper tissues which are folded together, and which are to be individually selectively dispensed, and wherein the respective paper tissues of the first and second courses each have a length and width dimension, a surface area, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing edge of a first paper tissue in one of the two courses is coupled by a plurality of connections to the leading edge of a next adjacent paper tissue in the same course, and wherein the first paper tissue in a course may be forcibly separated from the next subsequent paper tissue in the same course by breaking the plurality of connections, and wherein the paperboard container further has a top surface which defines an opening through which the individual paper tissues pass, and wherein the opening has a length dimension which is less than about 45% of the length dimension of the individual tissues; and a flexible membrane mounted on the top surface of the paperboard container, and which partially occludes the opening defined by the top surface, and wherein the flexible membrane defines a dispensing opening having a length dimension which is at least about 85% of the length dimension of the opening defined by the top surface, and wherein force applied to the leading edge of a first paper tissue in the first course, is effective in drawing substantially the entire surface area of the first paper tissue in the first course through the dispensing opening, as defined by the flexible membrane, while simultaneously carrying at least about 30% of the surface area of a first paper tissue in the second course through the dispensing opening, and wherein the flexible membrane exerts an amount of frictional resistance on the respective first paper tissues of each of the first and second courses which are being drawn through the dispensing opening such that the first paper tissue in the first course separates from the next subsequent paper tissue in first course by breaking the plurality of connections therebetween.
 17. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 16, and wherein the first paper tissue in the first course separates from the next subsequent tissue in the first course when the first paper tissue in the first course is located entirely outside of the paperboard container.
 18. A paper tissue dispenser as claimed in claim 16, and wherein the first paper tissue of the first course separates from the next subsequent paper tissue in the first course when the leading edge of the next subsequent paper tissue in the first course has passed through the dispensing opening and is positioned outside of the paperboard container. 